What would you do?! Tractor trade and a generator question

[Soundguy]

i bet that genny that hasn't been fired up in a half a decade fights you till the power comes back on before you get it started. that's why I went to a pto genset.

cheap lil engines that don't get started weekly, or at least every season ( landscape stuff ), is a bear to deal with.. look at lawnmowers and whackets and chainsaws.. after winter if theyhave not been used 3-4 months.. most are a bear...

soundguy

 

[nunyabinis]

cheap lil engines that don't get started weekly, or at least every season ( landscape stuff ), is a bear to deal with.. look at lawnmowers and whackets and chainsaws.. after winter if theyhave not been used 3-4 months.. most are a bear...

Used to be I'd agree with you but about a decade ago I started using fuel stabilizer religiously in all the gas cans I use to refill my small engine equipment. I haven't had to tear a carb apart since.* And they normally fire right up no matter how long they've been sitting. STA-BIL is worth it's weight in gold.



*I hope I didn't just jinx myself.


.

 

[weldoman]

How about a portable welder/generator? :

 

[Soundguy]

Used to be I'd agree with you but about a decade ago I started using fuel stabilizer religiously in all the gas cans I use to refill my small engine equipment. I haven't had to tear a carb apart since.* And they normally fire right up no matter how long they've been sitting. STA-BIL is worth it's weight in gold.



*I hope I didn't just jinx myself.


.

stabil works fine for me, as long as the gas doesn't evaporate out completely.. if it does.. it's just as bad as no stabilizer.... at least it's what I've seen anyway... don't help with the new ethanol gas and the humidity in florida.

soundguy

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

Used to be I'd agree with you but about a decade ago I started using fuel stabilizer religiously in all the gas cans I use to refill my small engine equipment. I haven't had to tear a carb apart since.* And they normally fire right up no matter how long they've been sitting. STA-BIL is worth it's weight in gold.



*I hope I didn't just jinx myself.


.

Yep, I've been using Sta-bil longer than 10 years with the same results. Also I buy my small engine gasoline at the local stations that advertise "NO ETHANOL" on big banners hanging over their pumps.

Bill

 

[SI2305]

I've contemplated this before too.

My bet would be on a generator separate from your tractor.

First, I don't think that having the tractor running for days on end is such a great idea.

Secondly, if you have a PTO generator, then that is ALL your tractor is going to do. In times of emergency/power outage, a 2720 could be awfully useful.

Third, I would consider a generator that is either diesel (fuel compatibility), or gasoline/propane/natural gas multi-fuel.

I live in Southern Illinois, and about two years ago we had some powerful storms (100mph+ winds!) that were called by some an "inland hurricane." before you start laughing, the storm had category 2 strength winds and an eye wall. One storm came in in the morning, passed with a perfectly clear sky directly up but dark clouds to the west followed by a second, much stronger storms with winds blowing in the opposite direction about 90 minutes after the first storm. Radar pictures showed a huge rotating cloud system over the entire area perhaps 60 miles wide in total.

The destruction was enormous. Hundreds of thousands of trees were down, and power was out for nearly a week. My wife had to stay as she is a doctor, but she could not return home (waaaay too many trees down) so the hospital put her up for 2 days. I took the kids and hightailed it to the grandparents where I bought a 5500 watt generator (on sale!), then headed back by myself. I was able to run the tractor to clean up the roughly 20 trees that had been blown down in my backyard. I used the generator to run my electric chainsaw--the only one I could buy in the region after the storm. I could also run the fridge and outdoor freezer plus a couple of other odds and ends.

The moral--If I had a PTO generator, I could either provide power or move logs but not both (the fires to burn up the wood ran for over a week). A multi-fuel generator is handy in that gas can go bad and Propane will (and has) lasted longer than you will.

Just my thoughts and experience,

SI2305

 

[Soundguy]

First, I don't think that having the tractor running for days on end is such a great idea.

Secondly, if you have a PTO generator, then that is ALL your tractor is going to do. In times of emergency/power outage, a 2720 could be awfully useful.

dSI2305

why is it people think you need power 24/7 during an emergency?

aren't any of you guys interested in conserving or rationing fuel.

in florida when we had the bad storms.. we went 2 weeks in some areas with no convienience stores / gas stations open.

running a genny 24/7 was not even an option.

that takes care of the tied up tractor as well.

tie the tractor up when you need power.. the other 98% of the time it can be doing storm cleanup.

soundguy

 

[nybirdman]

During our "ice storm of 1997" we kept four houses going with a little 2500 watt generator.Granted it wasn't very cold.Enough to flush and run the freezers and a little heat.We learned our lesson...we all have generators of some sort.Since I have a tractor I purchased a 10K PTO generator,I can run my whole house and garage.Certain times of the year(spring mostly) I can't be without power(I hatch/raise pheasant for my business).I know my tractor will start,other chores can wait.We all now have back-up heat sources either wood or propane(doesn't require power).

 

[pkav32]

Sweetjeep-
I have a 20K CAT natural gas generator with an automatic transfer switch. I originally had a manual switch with less hooked up to it. A few storms later I had to get automatic transfer switch. I found that most of the outages were when we were away. A lot of good the manual switch is when no one is there to turn it on! Especially in the winter months! Once you have the generator turn on once without having to get out and hook up a portable, or pto generator you will thank me.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Park your less used equipment either bone dry (including carb) or with Avgas which will last easily 6 months to a year without breaking down.

We rarely have power outages. But I'll be wishing for a PTO genny when a big hurricane comes. I have my barn wired up to "backfeed" thru the welding plug. Just have to throw the main switches off, on my meter loop and LOCK IT. Just don't have the money for the 13KW unit I want.